Packaging machine



April 6.9 E. PREC-HTER 3,435,584

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1966 Sheet or 10 Tic]. E.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. MEL 5 Pea-caret APri11i1969 I K. E. PRECHTER 3,435,584

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1956 INVENTOR. MFA f PEECHT-R *g BY L ,47'7OEA/EV Sheet Filed June 14, 1966 74mg, 2 1m April- 1, 1969 K. 5. PRECHTER PACKAGING MACHINE.

9 of 1o.v

Sheet Filed June 14, 1966 INVENTOR. X44; 5 /DAECH7ER ATTORNEY April 1', 1969 I K. E. P ECHTER PACKAGING MACHINE Sheet Filed June 14. 1966 United States Patent U.S. CI. 5362 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine for filling a succession of receptacles with a measured number of packets in plural columnar arrangement is made up of a station adapted to accommodate an interleafed, side-by-side, plurality of columns of said packets, each column having said packets contiguous with one another along the major portion of their broad faces and standing on edge, means for supplying packets on edge to said station in pluralities equal to the number of said columns, the individual packets in said pluralities being arranged side-by-side and being overlapped at the edges thereof to provide interleafing of said columns, means for counting the number of said packets supplied to form said columns and means for moving said interleafed plurality of columns as a unit and on edge into said receptacle upon reaching a predetermined packet count by said counting means.

This invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly relates to apparatus for accepting and transferring measured numbers of packets into package receptacles.

One common form of packaging is to place an article or substance into a packet, and to stack or arrange a plurality of such packets into a packaging receptacle such as a box. By use herein of the term packet, is meant a relatively small envelope-shaped container having major opposed faces joined at a periphery, either directly or by folds or the like, and also other forms of package similar to the aforesaid in relative proportions and overall size. The walls of a packet are generally flexible webbing, e.g. paper, plastic, etc. The substance contained within the packets may be edible or non-edible, may be particulate or emulsified or in other conditions, and ultimately may be employed by rending the packet to deliver the contents thereof, or by crushing the packet, or by soaking the packet in a liquid, or by other methods. For example, the packet may be fabricated of easily rendable paper, and the substance within may be edible, for example granular or powdered sugar, the use for which is flavoring or sweetening edible products such as cofiee or the like. Alternatively, the contents of such a rendable packet may be inedible, as for example sewing articles such as buttons or beads. Tea bags illustrated a form of packets in which the substance is edible (tea leaves) yet wherein the ultimate use does not involve rending the packet, but instead involves soaking the whole packet in hot water. In other forms, the packet webbing may be, for example, polyethylene, and the ultimate use may be to extrude a substance therefrom, such for example as mustard, paint, and the like, by squeezing or crushing the packet.

The present invention will be described with particular reference to the packaging of a measured plurality of individual packets of sugar into a packaging receptacle, e.g. a box, by automatic and/ or in-line apparatus, but it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other. forms of the basic packaging problem solved by the present invetnion. These other forms of the problem may relate to the examples already cited above, or to other situations involving substantially packet-like packages and packaging receptacles such as boxes. The

packaging of sugar is merely one highly advantageous example of the use of the invention.

When sugar is packaged in packets, an endless sleeve of paper is alternately sealed transversely and charged with granular sugar, so as to form end-linked rectangular (usually square) packets which are subsequently cut apart thereby constituting individual packets containing measured amounts of sugar. Such packet-forming-and-filling apparatus does not form part of the present invention, but a problem is presented by such apparatus in the rapid build-up of individual packets which must be placed in measured numbers into packaging receptacles such as boxes or the like for transportation and/or marketing.

Heretofore, the packets of sugar have been counted by hand by a human operator and transferred manually in measured amounts into boxes or transfer cases preliminary to transfer of boxes. Such manual operations have been inherently inefficient and expensive, and have presented production difficulties whenever an attendant was absent or could not manage the production of the one or more packeting machines under his charge. What has been desired is an automatic mechanism for accepting individual packets and, upon attainment of predetermined measured numbers thereof, transferring them into an appropriate packaging receptacle, which might be either a transfer receptacle or the ultimate package such as a box.

It is an object of the invention to provide automatic means for accepting individual packets and transferring measured numbers thereof into a packaging receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic packaging of measured quantities of packets with improved efficiency and economy.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for packing a predetermined number of packets into a packaging receptacle with closer packing than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for packaging a plurality of rows of packets in a single packaging receptacle with improved efliciency and closeness of packing.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are attained by an apparatus according to the invention, one presently preferred but merely illustrative embodiment of which is described hereinbelow in detail, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of an apparatus according to the invention illustrating the overall operation of the apparatus by showing at upper, lower, and intermediate levels, the relationship between various of the elements which act directly upon the packets at the various stages in the sequence of operations according to the invention;

FIG. 2. is a plan view of a portion of the upper level elements shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational section view of the elements of FIG. 2 taken along planes 3-3 therein;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the elements shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane 4--4 therein;

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of a portion of the elements shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane 5-5 therein;

FIG. 6 is a section view of a portion of the elements shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane 66 therein;

FIG. 7 is a section view of a portion of the elements shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane 7--7 therein;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the intermediate level elements shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another portion of the intermediate level elements shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a portion of the elements shown in FIG. 8 together with motive and control elements therefor;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a portion of the elements of an apparatus according to the invention showing the detailed interrelation between a portion of the elements shown in the intermediate and lower levels in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 shows a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11 and a packaging receptacle being loaded therey;

FIG. 13 is a section view of the elements shown in FIG. 11 viewed along plane 1313 therein;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11; and

FIGS. l-l7 are diagrammatic representations of the sequencing and control of the various parts of an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring now to the figures, and particularly with reference to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIGS. 2-7, a plurality of individual packets are carried upon a guide table indicated generally at in FIG. 1, so that each packet touches each adjacent packet along one of its broad faces. In the figures an example form of packet is shown, and in FIGS. 1 and 4 it may be seen that this example packet is folded-over along one edge and presssealed along the remaining edges 20a, 20b, 200. Of course, the packet may instead be press sealed along all four edges and may have many other variations in form and arrangement. The individual packets 20 may, for purposes of the present invention, be deposited upon guide table 30 by any appropriate means. Typically however, the machinery (not shown) which produces packets 20 will deposit the packets directly onto guide table 30, e.g., from a chute, or the packets 20 will be brought into the illustrated single-file broad-side relationship by other means not forming part of the present invention.

Guide table 30 (FIG. 1) is divided into two parallel guide table portions designated respectively 30a and 3012 (FIG. 2). Each of the guide table portions 30a, 30b includes a horizontal bottom surface 31a, 31b which cooperates with a pair of parallel vertical portions 32a and 33a, 32b and 33b, respectively, so that table portions 30a, 30b constitute a pair of parallel upwardly open U-shaped channels. Guide table portions 30a, 3% are mounted to a plurality of cross-members C carried by a frame F, and are offset axially with respect to one another so that their respective end portions 34a, 341) are staggered as is illustrated in FIG. 2. A pair of peripheral stop members 35a, and another pair 35!) (FIGS. 2 and 4) are secured respectively to guide table portions 30a, 30b a short distance from end portions 34a, 34b respectively. When packets 20 are loaded by any of the aforesaid means onto table 30, their progression toward end portions 34a, 34b will be correctly paced to keep the guide tables 30 in the illustrated loaded condition whereby a lead packet 20x, 20y in the respective guide tables 30a, 30b will be arrested at their respective side edges 20a, 200 by the pair of stops 35a and the pair of stops 351) respectively. In general, the packets 20 will be progressed by powered pushing from other packets further back in line, but the progression being under the influence of relatively gentle forces so that the lead packets will be arrested at their side edges by stop 35a, 3517. Feed systems other than powered may also be employed, for example, gravity chutes conducting packets 20 to guide table portions 30a, 30b. Just as end portions 34a, 3412 are staggered, so the pair of stops 35a and the pair of stops 35b are correspondingly staggered so each is spaced in relatively the same relationship to its respective end portion.

Intermediate each of stop pairs 35a, 35b and the associated end portions 34a, 34b is a downwardly open chute 40, 41 respectively (FIGS. 15). Chutes 41 are staggered because of the staggering of end portions 34a, 34b and each includes a principal wall 40a, 41a which cooperates wtih an incomplete facing principal wall 40b, 41b (FIG. 5) in a downward taper toward each other.

Walls 40b, 4112 are incomplete by virtue of a slotted opening extending downwardly for essentially the entire length thereof for a purpose to be presently described. Each of chutes 40, 41 further comprises a pair of minor Walls 40c, 40d, and 41c, 41d connecting the respective principal walls 40a, 40b, and 41a, 41b. As is best shown in FIG. 5, chutes 40, 41 in addition to being staggered, are intersected. Thus, minor walls 40d of chute 40 and 41d of chute 41 each intrude into the other chute so that the two chutes are gradually intersected as they progress downwardly from their upwardly open months. The minor walls 40d, 41d are terminated at the blunt common end 45. A packet station is defined by a frame 46, located at the lower portion of chutes 40, 41 below blunt end 45, and having a rectangular cross-section interior communicating with both of chutes 40, 41. The tapered minor walls 400, 41c join a pair of vertically upstanding packet station minor walls 46a, 46b at about the level of blunt end 45.

A peripheral stop 47 is located within packet station frame 46 at a first side thereof adjacent minor wall 46b under chute 41, and a second peripheral stop 48 is located adjacent minor wall 46a under chute 40, so that the stops 47, 48 are staggered due to the staggering of chutes 40", 41. When pairs of packets 20 are dropped down chutes 40, 41 they are automatically staggered and overlapped in the descent down the chutes so that upon resting as a pair at station 46 (FIG. 6) one packet is spaced slightly ahead of the other, and the adjacent edges of the packets are overlapped to a considerable extent. In the illustrated embodiment, chutes 40, 41 intersect by a total of about one-third of their major transverse dimension (FIG. 5) and accordingly packets descending chutes 40, 41 will overlap at their adjacent edges by a corresponding proportion (FIG. 6). It will be appreciated that by so staggering and overlapping successive pairs of packets 20, a double row of interleaved packets may be built up pairby-pair. Since such a double row will be interleaved, closer and more efficient packing into a single package receptacle than has heretofore been possible employing manual techniques, may be attained. The substantial saving in package volume and expense which results is an important feature of the present invention.

Each of chutes 40, 41 is equipped with a first pair of photoelectric cells 50, 51 respectively (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are located at the upper portions of the respective chutes and adjacent the slotted portion of major walls 40b, 41b. Lower in each chute, immediately above packet station 46, is a second pair of photoelectric cells 52, 53. Each of major walls 40a, 41a (FIG. 5) includes an upper aperture 40d, 41d respectively, which is aligned with a lens 50a, 51a respectively of photoelectric cells 50, 51, and a lower aperture 40c, 41c, which is aligned with a lens 52a, 53a respectively of photoelectric cells 52, 53. In FIG. 3 a pair of light sources 55, 56 (partially hidden in FIG. 3) is shown aligned with apertures 40d, 41d and lenses 50a, 51a of photoelectric cells 50, 51 respectively. Similarly, a pair of light sources 57, 58 is aligned with apertures 40c, 41c and lenses 52a, 53a on photoelectric cells 52, 53 respectively. It will be appreciated that a beam of light issues from each of the respective light sources and travels through the respective apertures to the respective lenses of the respective photoelectric cells. When a packet passes down either of chutes 40 or 41 the light beam between either source 55 and cell 50 or source 56 and cell 51 (depending upon which chute is concerned) is first interrupted, and then the light beam between either source 57 and cell 52 or source 58 and cell 53 is next interrupted. The information imparted by such interruption is employed in a manner presently to be described.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1-3, a pair of pick-up heads 60, 70 are mounted on a mounting plate M which is bolted to frame F by a pair of bolts B. Each of pick-up heads 60, 70 includes a housing 60a, a of generally rectangular outline having a forward end 60b, 70b of diminished cross-section, and an upwardly extending arm 611e, 70e. Three guide bars '80, 81, 82 are secured to mounting plate M by machine screws S, so that guide bars 80 and 81 guide pick-up head 70 on the mounting plate M, and guide bars 81 and 82 similarly guide pick-up head 60 on the mounting plate M. Each of pick-up heads 60, 70 is connected to a driving plunger 61, 71 respectively, and under driving impetus as hereinafter described driving plungers 61, 71 are adapted to move pick-up heads 60, 70 in reciprocal sliding relation relative to the pairs of guide bars 81, 82 and 81, 80 respectively.

At the forward ends 60b, 70b pick-up heads 60, 70 include a resilient generally cylindrical nipple 62, 72, each said nipple having a large diameter axial aperture therein communicating with an internal passageway (not shown) in each of the respective pick-up heads 60, 70. Afiixed to pick-up heads 60, 70 is a fitting 63, 73 which also communicates with the aforesaid internal passageway, and thereby affords a direct communication between nipples 62, 72 and fittings 63, 73 respectively. The fittings 63, 73 are connected to appropriate sources of vacuum (not shown) and the vacuum available at fittings 63, 73 may be valved on and off in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter described. While the pick-up heads 60, 70 are essentially identifical, they are arranged in staggered relationship to one another to exactly the same degree of stagger as guide tables 30b, 30a and all the elements appurtenant thereto. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the pick-up heads 60, 70 are shown retracted to one extreme of their reciprocal motion, wherein the nipples 62, 72 are positioned with their lead faces 62a, 72a respectively positioned over chutes 41, 40. At the other extreme of their reciprocal movement nipples 62, 72 have their lead faces 62a, 72a advanced beyond chutes 41, 40 and to the position where lead packets 20y, 20x are resting against stops 35b, 35a respectively, as may best be seen in full outline for nipple 62 in FIG. 1 and in phantom outline for nipple 72 in FIG. 3.

Each of driving plungers 61, 71 is powered by a pneurnatic cylinder, identical to pneumatic cylinder 64 shown connected to driving plunger 61 in FIG. 1. Each of these pneumatic cylinders is double-acting, to power its respective pick-up heads 60, 70 in both the aforesaid reciprocal directions. Associated with each of pick-up heads 60, 70 is a microswitch such as microswitch 65 shown in FIG. 1 associated with pick-up head 60. In its normal position (full outline in FIG. 1) each of these microswitches is in a state corresponding to the on state of the vacuum applied to heads 60, 70. When lever 65a of microswitch 65, for example, is moved from the full to the phantom position (FIG. 1) by the full retraction of head 60 with switch actuating arm 60a to intercept lever 65a, the state of microswitch 65 is changed to that corresponding to the off state of the vacuum applied to heads 60. 70.

The sequence of events whereby successive pairs of packets 20, one each from guide tables 30a, 30b, e.g. packets 20x and 20y, are picked up by heads 70, 60 and dropped as pairs into chutes 40, 41 to descend to station 46, will now be described, with particular reference to the diagrammatic control diagram of FIG. 15. When heads 60, 70 are advanced to the position shown at nipple 62 in FIG. 1, i.e. into contact with lead packets 20y, 20x on tables 30b, 30a, the microswitches 65 and 66 (FIG. will already have been released to the normal on position, so that vacuum will be supplied to each of nipples 62, 72. The heads 60, 70 may advance to tables 30b, 30a individually. When the nipple of either head contacts a packet there, e.g. when the nipple 62 of head 60 contacts lead packet 20y, blocking of the orifice of that nipple by that packet occurs, causing a build-up of vacuum in the line supplying vacuum to that nipple. In FIG. 15 it may be seen that when a nipple contacts a packet, e.g. when nipple 62 contacts packet 20y, a vacuum actuatable switch 68 is actuated to its on position. A similar vacuum actuatable switch 69 is controlled by the vacuum level at nipple 72. Switches 68, 69 may be any conventional vacuum actuatable switches, designed to be in the off state below a certain predetermined vacuum level, and in the on state at greater vacuum levels. The switches 68, 69 are calibrated so that when either nipple 62 or 72 is free, the corresponding switch 68 or 69 is in the off state, and when either nipple 62 or 72 is in full contact with a packet 20 the higher vacuum developed thereat causes the associated switch 68 or 69 to be in the on state.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 15, it will be seen that it is necessary for both of vacuum actuatable switches 68 and 69 to be in the on state before anything else happens, i.e. that both nipples 62, 72 must be in contact with packets before anything else can happen, so that if one head advances to table 30 ahead of the other, the earlier one will wait until both have made contact before the next step is begun. The AND gate shown receiving the on signals from vacuum switches 68, 69 performs the function of producing an output signal only when both of switches 68, 69 supply an on input thereto. AND gate 85 may constitute, for example, a series arrangement of vacuum switches 68, 69 energizing the control contacts of a relay (not shown), the power contacts of which yield the aforesaid output signal. This output signal from AND gate 85 is employed (FIG. 15) for three purposes. It constitutes a retract signal to the pneumatic valve (not shown) controlling each of heads 60, 70. Thus, when both heads advance (one at a time, or together) so that nipples 62, 72 both securely contact packets 20y, 20x, the aforesaid events cause retraction of heads 60, 70 in tandem, fixedly staggered, relation. Its third purpose is to supply an input signal to AND gate 86.

The heads 60, 70 retract until one of two events occurs. Either they retract until they actuate switch 65 and switch 66 (FIG. 15 to drop their packets down chutes 41, 40, or one or both of them lose contact with their packet at an earlier stage of retraction. To drop their packets simultaneously down chutes 40, 41, three conditions must obtain. The heads 60, 70 retract in tandem, as aforesaid, so that they will strike switches 65, 66 together, and will simultaneously be over chutes 41, 40 (FIGS. 1-3). The off signal produced by each of switches 65, 66 is fed to AND gate 86 together with the output signal of AND gate 85. When these three input signals are impressed upon AND gate 86, it produces an output signal. Again, AND gate 86 may constitute a relay (not shown) having the control winding energized by the output signal of AND gate 85, subject to switches 65, 66 in series therewith. The output signal of AND gate 86 constitutes a command to the vacuum source for nipples 62, 72 to cut off their vacuum. This is accomplished by using the signal to valve off the vacuum to the nipples. Thus, when the heads are being retracted, and switches 65, 66 are both actuated, AND gate 86 will respond by cutting off the vacuum holding the packets to the nipples 62, 72. Since the input conditions to AND gate 86 demand that the nipples 62, 72 be simultaneously over their respective chutes 41, 40, this means that the packets 20y, 20x are simultaneously dropped down those chutes as a pair. An advance cycle can then be commenced to reinstitute the process to pick up and drop the next pair of packets down the chutes 41, 40.

As aforesaid, one or both heads may lose contact with a packet after both heads have attained contact and retraction has been commanded or even commenced. The broken arrows in FIG. 15 indicate that when one or both nipples have their elevated vacuum (indicating contact) broken, i.e. lowered to the free orifice valve, the associated vacuum switch 68 or 69 is thereby put into the off state, thus commanding the associated head to advance again to re-establish contact with a packet. The other head will continue its retraction, and dropping of the packets down the chutes 40, 41 will not occur until the other head catches up again and actuates its switch 65 or 66. This broken arrow sequence can also be employed to institute automatic cycling into advance after the drop into chutes 40, 41, which was mentioned above. Thus, when the vacuum is valved off as aforesaid to drop the packets into the chutes 40, 41, the vacuum switches 68, 69 will be turned off, and unless over-ridden so that another event can cause recycling of heads 60, 70 into advance movement, the off state of switches 68, 69 will cause the heads to advance, as shown by the broken arrows in FIG. 15, by appropriately valving their pneumatic cylinders. However, it is preferred that command of advance of heads 60, 70 be controlled by photoelectric cells 51, 50 (FIG. 3). Thus, when a packet drops down chute 40, or 41, the cell 50 or 51 associated therewith commands the pick-up head 70 or 60 associated therewith to advance to table to start another cycle. If the packets in a pair are dropped together, the heads advance together. If they are dropped one at a time, the pick-up heads so advance. It will be remembered that an earlier advanced pick-up head awaits the later advanced pick-up head, and that the pick-up heads are always retracted together. Cells 50, 51 give a more definite indication of the descent of the packets into chutes 40, 41 than do vacuum switches 69, 68, and accordingly employment of cells 51, to valve the pneumatic cylinders to advance heads 60, 70 is preferred. In addition, the packets dropping down chute 40, passing cell 50, provide counting pulses in so doing, and the count is utilized to predetermine the number of packets ultimately packed into an individual packaging receptacle.

The elements located on the intermediate level (FIG. 1) of the apparatus according to the invention, i.e. the level of station 46 (FIG. 3) will now be described, with additional reference to FIGS. 69. As is best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, a pneumatic cylinder is mounted to a frame portion FF on the level of packet station 46, and includes a driving rod 91 connected to pusher 93 at a pusher fitting 93b. As is illustrated in phantom outline in FIG. 9, pusher 93 is reciprocally movable by pneumatic cylinder 90 in a short stroke cycle (at 93) or a lon stroke cycle (at 93"). A pneumatic stop cylinder 100 (FIG. 9) controls a rod 101 having a stop 102 at the free end thereof, for selective extension between a first position shown in full outline (at 102) and a second position shown in broken outline (at 102). When a short stroke of pusher 93 is to be effected, auxiliary pneumatic cylinder 100 positions stop 102 at the full outline location illustrated in FIG. 9, and when a long stroke of pushe 93 is to be effected, auxiliary pneumatic cylinder 100 positions stop 102 at the broken outline position illustrated in FIG. 9. A pair of connecting rods 92a, 92b is connected by a pair of pusher fittings 93a to pusher 93, and extends on opposite sides along the entire length of cylinders 90 and 100 and the full length of rod 101, and includes an arm 94 secured thereto at the free ends thereof by a pair of fittings 95. The arm 94 is disposed normal to rods 92a, 92b and a central portion 94a is aligned axially with rod 101, so as to advance toward and away from stop 102 during reciprocal movement of pusher 93. The pneumatic force exerted by auxiliary cylinder 100 is greater than that exerted by cylinder 90, so that when 94 is driven against stop 102, pusher 93 is stopped from further movement in that direction.

Three microswitches 110, 111, and 112 are secured to frame portion FF along the length of connecting rod 92a, and including actuating levers 110a, 111a, and 112a respectively. Connecting rod 92a carries a disc 96 which is of sufficient radius to intercept any of levers 110a, 111a, and 112a as it is carried past each of them during the reciprocal motion of pusher 93. Each of microswitches 110, 111, and 112 has its state momentarily changed (e.g. closed) when its associated lever is driven in the direction indicated by the schematic arrow on the body portion thereof. In short stroke operation stop cylinder is actuated to drive stop 102 to the fully extended position shown in full outline at 102 in FIG. 9 and to hold it there. Upon actuation of cylinder 90, pusher 93 is driven from the full outline position shown in FIG. 9 to the broken outline position shown at 93, which is the extreme of the short stroke cycle. This extreme is determined by the abutment of arm 94 against the fully extended stop 102. Just before arm 94 is hottomed on stop 102, disc 96 engages lever 111a in the direction indicated in the arow on the body of microswitch 111, thereby actuating microswitch 111 to provide a signal indicating that the short stroke has been completed. The pusher 93 will, after the short stroke is completed, be withdrawn from the broken outline position 93 (FIG. 9) to the full outline position 93. In long stroke operation stop cylinder 100 withdraws stop 102 to broken outline position 102 (FIG. 9) and holds it there. Cylinder 90 drives pusher 93 until it abuts the stop 102 at position 102. Just before such abutment, disc 96 actuates microswitch to indicate that the long stroke is completed. The pusher 93, after the long stroke, will be withdrawn by cylinder 90 from position 93" to position 93 (FIG. 9). The microswitch 112 will be passed by disc 96 in the direction of the arrow thereon, at the termination of the return of pusher 93 from the long and the short strokes thereof.

It will be appreciated that each short stroke of pusher 93 drives a pair of packets from station 46 to a primary loading area (FIG. 1) outside station 46 on the side thereof opposite cylinder 90. It will also be appreciated that when a number of pairs of packets has been accumulated, by successive short strokes, at and beyond the primary loading area, the next long stroke will drive the entire accumulation of packets entirely into the secondary loading area (FIG. 9) for a purpose to be explained presently. By adjusting the number of short strokes preceding each long stroke, the number of packets driven into the secondary loading area, and subsequently into a packaging receptacle, is determined.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7, there is shown a gate stop assembly indicated generally at 20, comprising a pneumatic cylinder 121 (FIG. 7) mounted to an upright frame member UF having an extensible rod 122 to which is connected at right angles a gate tail 123 by means of a fitting 124. Horizontally spaced from rod 122 along gate tail 123 is a generally rectangular gate 125 which is disposed adjacent packet station frame 46, On vertical frame member UP, a short distance above pneumatic cylinder 121, is mounted a bracket through which is adjustably secured a threaded stop screw 131 including a stop 132 at the lower end thereof. The pneumatic cylinder 121 is equipped with suitable valving mechanisms (not shown) so that rod 122 may be extended and retracted, and stop 132 may be adjusted so that the limits of upward and downward movement of rod 122 drives gate tall 123 between the positions shown in full outline at 123 and phantom outline at 123 in FIG. 7. The proportions of gate 125 are such that with the proper setting of stop 132 the lower edge 125a of gate 125 just clears packets advanced by pusher 93 whenever rod 122 is extended upwardly against stop 132 so that the gate tail occupies the aforesaid broken outline position 123. When gate 125 is in that position, the packets advanced by pusher 93 may move through a long or short stroke cycle without interference. Thus in the short stroke cycle any packets held within packet station 46 may be pushed out of station 46 under and beyond gate 125 into the primary loading area, and in the long stroke cycle the pusher 93 may be projected beyond the primary loading area to push the accumulated packet rows entirely into the secondary loading area.

When rod 122 is retracted so that gate tall 123 is lowered to the full outline position shown in FIG. 7, the bottom edge 125a of gate 125 in'trudes appreciably below the upper portions of the packets 20 in packet station 46, thereby preventing easy translation of those packets in one direction or the other past gate 125. Pneumatic cylinder 121 is thus capable of blocking or unblocking the packets in packet station 46, and in the present invention this is employed to assure that packets previously driven out of packet station 46 by pusher 93 do not back-up into station 46 after pusher 93 is retracted.

As is best shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, the packets driven out of station 46 to the primary and secondary loading areas ride on four rails 157a, 158a, 1571;, 158b which are arranged to be coplanar with frame member FF, and thereby the floor of station 46. A pair of side plates 159a, and a top plate 15% (FIG. 14) define, with rails 157a-158 b, a rectangular passageway in which the packets are accumulated into rows prior to being driven off the rails to the left (as viewed in FIG. 12) into a packaging receptacle, as explained hereinafter. While the packets are on rails 1'5711-158b, the friction forces at their edges from the rails and plate-s 159a-1'5-9c help keep them in place and upright. In addition, and as is best shown in FIG. 10, the rows of packets are accumulated against the pressure of a movable trolley indicated generally at 140. As may be further understood by additional recourse to FIGS. 1, 8, 11, and 14, trolley 140 includes a carriage 141 in the form of a pair of generally S shaped brackets 141a, 141b each having a vertically oriented V-groove roller 142, 143 thereto, and an upper bracket '144 (FIG. 14) connecting the brackets 141a, 1411) and carrying a depending pair of horizontally oriented V-grooved roller wheels 146, 147 at spaced positions thereon. The carriage 141 is mounted for movement on a frame 150 (FIG. 11) including a pair of spaced laterally disposed rails 151, 152 (FIG. 14) upon which rollers 146, 147 ride so as to support the carriage 141 for movement along frame 150. The frame 150 is pivoted by a horizontal pin 155 through a bracket 156 secured to frame 150 and to upstanding frame member UF. Rollers 142, 143 are so spaced as to ride the inner pair of rails 157a, 158a when frame 150 is pivoted downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 10. The bracket portions 141a, 141b of carriage 141 act to support the forward end of any adjacent row of packets when the frame 150 is in the aforesaid downwardly pivoted position, but when the frame 150 is pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 the rows of packets are free to be pushed as a unit into a packaging receptacle, by means to be presently described.

Before the transfer to a packaging receptacle occurs, a series of short strokes and one long stroke of pusher 93 will have occurred as previously described. Carriage 141 is connected by a rod 160 to a pneumatic cylinder 161 which is in turn bracketed by a bracket 162 to frame 150. When carriage 141 is moved to the left (as viewed in FIG. 11) pneumatic cylinder 161 acts as a damper, i.e. acts to supply a yieldable restraint upon such movement, but pneumatic cylinder 161 may also be valved to retract rod 160 thus returning carriage 141 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 11) for a new sequence of short strokes preparatory to filling another packaging receptacle. As each short stroke of pusher 93 adds another pair of packets to the rows of packets beyond packet station 46, carriage 141 is moved another step to the left under the force of pusher 93 moving to the same primary loading area position each time, but with additional packets. Carriage 141 moves a larger step to the left when the long stroke of pusher 93 occurs. Between strokes the rows of packets are maintained in close packed relation by the various frictions on the packets as aforesaid, the presence of lowered gate 125, and the restraint of carriage 141.

The sequence of events whereby successive pairs of packets 20, e.g. packets x and 20y, are driven from packet station 46 at the mutual bottom of chutes 40, 41 to the primary loading area and then entirely to the secondary loading area by pusher 93, with the cooperation of carriage 141 and gate 125, will now be described, with particular reference to the control diagram of 'FIG. 16. When a pair of packets, 20x, 20y are dropped down chutes 40, 41, that fact will be recorded by photo cells 52, 53 which are far enough down those chutes to posi tively indicate that station 46 has two side-by-side packets therein. This fact initiates the sequence of steps whereby the pair is pushed out of station '46. But if only one chute receives a packet, the sequence will not be initiated, and if that chute receives another packet while the first is still therein, that fact will cause an alarm to ring so that the extra packet can be manually removed. This discrimination is effected by feeding the output of photo cells '52, 53 to an AND gate 300, and also to a comparator 310. If a packet appears in each of chutes 40, 41, AND gate 300 is satisfied and generates a signal, while comparator 310 is inactive. On the other hand, if two packets pass down the same chute, with or without a packet in the other chute, comparator 310 will note the extra or unbalanced count, and will sound an alarm 320, and override the AND gate 300 if necessary (i.e. if at least one packet appears in each chute with an excess thereover in one chute). AND gate 300 may constitute series switches, one each closed by photo cells 52, 53. Comparator 310 may constitute any mechanical or electrical device that will provide a signal when either of cells 52, 53 register more packet counts than the other Comparator 310 is reset every time pusher 93 receives an advance signal from AND gate 300.

When a pair of packets 20x, 20y register on cells '52, 53, and AND gate 300 emits an advance signal to pusher 93, the packets will be pushed out of station 46. The stop 102 will normally be held by cylinder in the short stroke position, so when pusher 93 advances it will normally advance only the distance needed to push packets 20x, 20y from station 46 to the aforesaid primary loading area, before abutting stop 102. As soon as pusher 93 advances, gate 125 will move upward out of the way of packets 20x, 20y. This can be actuated by the advance signal from AND gate 300 itself, or by pusher 93 reaching position A, as illustrated in FIG. 16. When pusher 93 reaches and actuates the short stroke switch 111 (at position B, FIG. 16) a down signal is emitted by switch 111 which causes gate 125 to move down. The pusher 93 is meanwhile abutting stop 102, and will retract only when gate 125 has moved completely down to actuate ga-te switch 128. The pusher 93 is then retracted to start another pushing cycle when another pair of packets 20x, 20y enter station 46.

The pusher 93 continues back and forth against stop 102, which continues to be held in the short stroke position, until a predetermined count is reached. Photo cell 50 is employed to perform the count, together with other functions already described with reference to FIG. 15. Photo cell 50 counts the packets passing down one chute, and when the final count to be packed into the packagingreceptacle is reached, a counter 330 emits a signal which initiates long stroke operation. For example, if fifteen pairs of packets are to be packed into the packaging receptacle, fifteen counts of cell 50 will be registered by counter 330, and on the fifteenth, the full count signal will be emitted. This signal performs three functions. It holds pick-up heads 60, 70 at the advanced position so that the extra time for the long stroke cycle is provided. It bypasses short stroke switch 111, so that long stroke switch controls the lowering of gate 125. It retracts stop 102 into cylinder 100 to allow pusher 93 to advance all the way to the secondary loading area, in the long stroke.

Thus, counter 330 initiates the long stroke by retracting stop 102, and pusher 93 is free to travel further, on command of AND gate 300 on the next pair of packet 20x, 20y (the final pair in the predetermined count), than in the short strokes. Gate is raised as in the short stroke operation, but actuation of switch 111 does not lower gate 125 when pusher 93 reaches position B (FIG. 16). That switch has been bypassed, e.g. by opening a switch in series therewith in response to the aforesaid full count signal of counter 330. When pusher '93 pushes the last pair of packets x, 20y from station 46 to and beyond the primary loading area and into the secondary loading area together with the whole columns of previous packets before them, the long stroke switch will be reached (at C in FIG. 16) and actuated, lowering gate 125. Meanwhile the pusher 93 will bottom on stop 102 in the long stroke position. The lowered gate will actuate switch 128, as before, and pusher 93 will be retracted in response thereto. Upon retraction, pusher 93 will actuate another switch that will initiate a sequence of operations regarding primarily the lower level elements, presently to be described, that push the packet rows from the secondary loading area into the packaging receptacle. A certain amount of overlap between the operations of this third level of elements and the reinstitution of pickup and pushing of a new series of packets on the upper and intermediate levels is practiced, and the means for phasing the two by the long stroke operation just described will be explained after the lower level elements are descrbied.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 1ll4, there is shown the means whereby the rows of packets are driven completely off the apparatus according to the invention and into a package receptacle. A pneumatic cylinder 170 (FIG. 14) is pivotally secured to vertical frame member UF at bracket 171 and includes a rod 172 which is pivotally connected via bracket 173 to frame on the opposite side of pivot pin from pneumatic cylinder 161. The extension and retraction of rod 172 upon the appropriate valving of pneumatic cylinder forces the raising and lowering respectively of frame 150 by pivoting action thereof at pivot pin 155. When frame 150 with carriage 141 is raised upwardly away from the row of packets, they are freed for movement as a unit off the rails 157a-15 8b and into a waiting packaging receptacle. An elevator platform (FIG. 11) is secured to a piston rod by a bolted flange 196, and rod 195 is arranged to be driven upwardly and downwardly by a pneumatic cylinder 200 which is in turn bolted to a subplatform SP. As is best seen in FIG. 14, elevator 190 includes a pair of spaced S-shaped rails 191, 192 which are bolted thereto by a series of bolts 191a, 192a respectively. A pusher trolley 210 includes a platform 211 through which is mounted an axle 213. Two roller wheels 214 are carried at the ends of axle 213. The diameter of roller wheels 214, and the placing of axle 213 relative to platform 211 is such that the roller wheels 214 are carried within rails 191, 192 for rolling action over the surface of elevator 190. Mounted to platform 211 are three upright L-shaped pusher bars 220222, each of which includes an upstanding portion 220a-222a surmounted by an. arm portion 220b222b extending from upstanding portions 220a-222a in the forward direction, i.e. the direction of movement of the rows of packets. Pusher bars 220222 are spaced apart sufficiently on platform 210 so that upon elevation of platform 210 pusher bars 220, 221, and 222 pass respectively between rail pairs 157a, 1571!, and 157a, 158a, and 158a, 15812.

A pneumatic cylinder 240 (FIGS. 1 and 11) is pivotally connected at one end to frame F and includes a piston rod 241 which is pivotally connected to a bracket 222 on pusher trolley 210. Pneumatic cylinder 240 may be valved to extend and retract piston rod 241, thereby driving pusher trolley 210 from the near end to the far end of elevator 190. Completion of the long stroke of pusher 93 actuates the raising of platform 150 as aforesaid, and additionally actuates pneumatic cylinder 200 which drives platform 190 from the full outline position to the broken outline position 190 illustrated in FIG. 11, so that the pusher bars 220222 are extended through and above the various rails 157a158b. This movement is coordinated (as will presently be described) with the withdrawal of pusher 93 from the long stroke so that pusher bars 220-222 are introduced in place of pusher 93 behind the rearmost of the rows of packets. When elevator 190 reaches the fully raised position it operates a microswitch 250 (FIG. 11) which valves pneumatic cylinder 240 to extend piston rod 241 and drive pusher trolley 210 against the rows of packets. The contemporaneous raising of platform 15G frees the packets to be pushed by pusher trolley 210, and the friction forces associated with the scraping of the edges of the packets as they are pushed keeps them in close packed and vertical orientation. The pneumatic cylinder 240 extends rod 241 until pusher trolley 210 is driven completely to the opposite end of elevator 190, as is best illustrated in FIG. 12, i.e. until the entire rows of packets are driven off rails 157a- 1581) and into a packaging receptacle.

Pusher trolley 210 includes a generally Z-shaped arm 215 having an outermost elbow 215a and a depending arm portion 215!) aligned with but rearwardly spaced from elbow 215a. Three microswitches 270, 280, and 290 are mounted in the path of arm 215, and microswitches 270, 280 and 290 include roller lever arms 271, 281, 291 respectively which are aligned with and may be intercepted by elbow 215a during travel of pusher trolley 210 thereby. The switches 270,280, 290 are actuated when their lever is moved in the direction of the arrows thereon (FIG. 13). Thus, switches 270 and 290 are actuated when arm 215 moves in a first direction, and switch 280 is actuated when arm 215 moves in the opposite direction, past the respective switches. These microswitches are employed to sequence the operations which occur coordinate with and subsequent to the loading of a package receptable 260 by pusher trolley 210, as will presently be described.

As is best shown in FIG. 12, the packaging receptacle 260 is positioned with an open end 261 contiguous with the end rails 151, 152, and 230, 231. The lateral dimension of the packaging receptacle is sufficient to be aligned with (FIG. 14) the side plates 159a and 15% and the vertical dimension is sufficient to be aligned at the lower edge thereof with rods 157a1-5 8b and at the upper edge thereof with upper plate 1590. It is contemplated that packaging receptacle 260 may either be the ultimate packaging receptacle for the packets, e.g. a box, or may be a transfer packaging receptacle, e.g. a metal cannister which is ultimately emptied directly into the final packaging receptacle. Also it is contemplated that when receptacle 260 is a transfer receptacle, receipt of the periodic deliveries of pusher trolley 210 may be achieved with a single transfer packaging receptacle 260 which is repeatedly filled and then emptied into ultimate receptacles at another location and returned in time to the next delivery by trolley 210, or alternatively receipt may be achieved with a series of such transfer packaging receptacles which are endlessly circulated to and from the aforesaid contiguous relationship, again being emptied to the ultimate receptacles at another location. Of course when the ultimate packaging receptacle itself comprises receptacle 260,'the continuous supply of such receptacles involves no return as it does when a transfer receptacle is employed. Finally, each receptacle 260 may be moved into alignment with pusher trolley 210 by vertical motion, horizontal motion, or any combined motion which results in the appropriate aforesaid contiguous relationship for at least the period of time necessary for the complete transfer of the rows of packets thereinto by pusher trolley 210.

In the illustrated embodiment (FIGS. 12, 13) the receptacle 260 is moved stepwise laterally, i.e. horizontally, to and away from the egress end of rods 157a-158b, and a plurality of cleats 265a holds each receptacle 260 to a driven chain belt 265 which motivates it. The chain belt 265 is coordinated with trolley pusher 210 so that the rows of packets are driven into a dwelling receptacle 260 (FIG. 12). It will be understood that the relationship between the various packets, both in a single row and in the interleaved rows, is the same when they are within the packaging receptacle 260 as it was in the previously described relationship when they were carried on the rails 157a-158a. The result is a very close packing of the packets, particularly when multiple interleaved rows of packets are employed, and the number of packets in the packaging receptacle 260 is accurately controlled so that extra margins to guarantee a correct minimum count need not be employed.

The sequence of events whereby the packets in the secondary loading area are driven, as a unit, into a dwelling package receptacle 260, will now be described, with particular reference to the control diagram of FIG. 17. The pusher 93 is retracted by means shown in FIG. 16, and then, as shown in FIG. 17, actuates switch 112, which can only be actuated on a return stroke of pusher 93. Such return strokes occur on both long and short stroke operation, so the actuation of long stroke switch 110 forms one input to AND gate 500, and the actuation of return switch 112 forms the other input thereto, so that the output of AND gate 500 indicates return from a long stroke only. AND gate 500 may, for example, merely constitute a series connection of switches 110, 112.

The output of AND gate 500 sets into motion the driving of the packets into the waiting packaging receptacle 260. Cylinders 170 and 200 are energized by the output of gate 500, and they respectively raise frame 150 and elevator 190. The raising of frame 150 raises carriage 141 and cylinder 161 therewith, thus freeing the accumulated packets for movement toward receptacle 260. Elevator 190 carries trolley 210 up behind the accumulated packets, as aforesaid, and when the elevator 190 is completely up it actuates switch 250 indicating same, and supplying an input to AND gate 700. The other input to AND gate 700 is supplied by a switch 600 only when a packaging receptacle 260 is in position for receipt of the packets, as aforesaid. Accordingly the packets will not be driven off the apparatus until a receptacle 260 is in place. AND gate 700 may be merely a series connection of switches 250, 600.

When the conditions on AND gate 700 are met, an energizing signal is produced thereby to energize cylinder 240, thereby advancing trolley 210, with the accumlated packets in front thereof, toward receptacle 260. When the position in space occupied by switch 290 (FIG. 13) is reached, that switch will be actuated by trolley 210. In FIG. 17 that point of travel of trolley 210 is diagrammatically represented at X. The actuation of switch 290 causes the resumption of operation of pickup heads 60, 70, and the lowering of frame 150. There is of course lead time involved there, and the parts are easily timed so that the new sequence of packets instituted by heads, 60, 70 does not interfere with the end of the sequence involving driving of the previous packets into receptacle 260. Overlap is desirable since total time is thereby reduced. Similarly, the lowering of frame 150 causes no problem since the previously accumulated packets are now in advance thereof, and since the switch 290 causes cylinder 161 to retract carriage 141 at the same time that frame 150 is commenced to lower.

Meanwhile, trolley 210 is continuing to push the accumulated packets toward receptacle 260. Switch 280 is passed without actuation, since it actuates only on the return motion of trolley 210. When switch 270 is reached it is actuated (indicated at position Y in FIG. 17), thereby causing cylinder 240 to retract, drawing trolley 210 back. The point of actuation of switch 270 of course corresponds to the point where the trolley 210 has reached receptacle 260 with all the accumulated packets shoved thereinto. When trolley 210 has withdrawn a short distance to switch 280 (FIG. 13), that switch is actuated since it is sensitive to return motion of trolley 210. This is indicated at point Z in FIG. 17. Switch 280 causes conveyor 280 to advance, thus taking the full receptacle 260 away and supplying an empty receptacle 260 in its place. When the latter reaches the loading position it will actuate switch 600, as aforesaid, providing an input to AND gate 700 for the next cycle. Switch 280 also causes elevator to lower, so that the remainder of the return of trolley 210 occurs below rails 157a15 8b, thus leaving those rails free for the imediate accumulation of the next cycle of packets.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity and with reference to an illustrative embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations in the form and arrangement of parts may be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine for filling a succession of packaging receptacles with measured numbers of packets in plural-columnar interleaved arrangement comprising:

(a) a station adapted to accommodate an interleaved, side-by-side, plurality of columns of said packets, each column having said packets contiguous with one another along the major portion of their broad faces, and standing on edge;

(b) means for supplying said packets, on edge, to said station, in pluralities equal to the number of said columns, the individual packets in said pluralities being arranged side-by-side and being overlapped at the lateral edges thereof to the extent of interleaving of said columns, for formation of said interleaved plurality of columns;

(c) means for counting the number of said packets supplied to form said column; and

(d) means for moving said interleaved plurality of columns, as a unit and on edge, into said packaging receptacle in response to attainment of a predetermined packet count by said counting means.

2. A packaging machine for filling, inplural-columnar interleaved arrangement, a succession of packaging receptacles with measured numbers of packets from a packet source, comprising:

(a) a first station having a plurality of packet positions,

to accommodate a plurality of side-by-side, sideedge-overlapped, packets standing on edge;

(b) means for moving packets into said first station to fill said positions in successive instances;

(c) a second station adapted to accommodate an interleaved, side-by-side, plurality of columns of said packets, each column having said packets contiguous with one another along the major portion of their broad faces, and standing on edge;

(d) first means for moving each successive plurality of packets from said first station to said second station in response to arrival of all of that plurality of packets in said first station, toaccumulate in said second station as said plurality of interleaved columns;

(e) means sensitive to the number of packets moved from said first station to said second station; and

(f) second means for moving said plurality of interleved columns, as a unit, into one of said packaging receptacles in response to a predetermined packet count being attained by said counting means.

3. A packaging machine according to claim 2 wherein said means for moving packets into said first station comprises, a plurality of chutes, one leading to each of said packet positions, each said chute having a major, transverse axis arranged parallel to but spaced from the corresponding axis of each immediately adjacent chute, adjacent chutes progressively intersecting laterally from their mutual upper to lower portions, the amount of intersection at the lower portions adjacent said first station being a minor fraction of the major transverse dimension of one of said packets.

4. A packaging machine according to claim 3 wherein, said means for moving packets into said first station further comprises, pick-up means adapted to move reciprocally between said packet source and the upper portion of said chutes, to pick up individual packets at said source and deposit them into each of said chutes.

5. A packaging machine according to claim 3 wherein, said first means for moving packets from said first to said second station comprises, a photoelectric cell located in each of said chutes to indicate passage of packets downwardly therein to the various packet positions in said first station, motive means for powering movement of said packets from said first to said second stations, and means responsive to the output of said cells and adapted to actuate said motive means when every one of said cells indicates passage of a packet through the chute associated therewith.

6. A packaging machine according to claim 2 wherein, said second station comprises, means for supporting the mutual bottom edges of said packets, advanceable means supporting the frontmost of said packets remote from said first station, and gate means supporting the rearmost of said packets adjacent said first station.

7. A packaging machine according to claim 2 wherein, said second station comprises, means for supporting the mutual bottom edges of said packets, advanceable means supporting the -frontmost of said packets remote from said first station and adapted to be forced ahead step by step by increase in the number of said packets, and gate means mounted at the rearmost of said packets to support same against backing-up into said first station, movable between a first position in line with said rearmost packets and a second position out of line therewith.

8. A packaging machine according to claim 7 wherein, said gate means is moved out of line with said rearmost packets in response to each movement of said first moving 16 means toward said second station, and is moved back into line with said rearmost packets before return of said first moving means back past said gate to said first station.

9. A packaging machine according to claim 2 wherein, said first means for moving said packets from said first to said second station is adapted to drive successive pluralities of packets from said first station to a primary loading area of said second station, and to drive the last plurality of packets completing said predetermined packet count beyond said primary loading area and to a second ary loading area of said second station With the columns of accumulated packets therebefore, and wherein, said second means for moving said plurality of columns into said receptacle comprises, motive means normally located out of line with said plurality of columns, and adapted to move into line behind the rearmost packets of said plurality of columns in response to completion of movement of said columns from said primary to said secondary loading areas and to thereupon push said plurality of columns as a unit into said receptacle.

References Cited Stroop 53-154 X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,435,584 April 1, 1969 Karl E. Prechter It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 55, "illustrated" should read illustrate Column 8, line 11, "arow" should read arrow line 43, "20" should read 120 Column 10, line 29, after "other" insert a period. Column 14, line 39, "inplural-columne should read in plural-columnar Signed and sealed this 14th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR

Edward M. Fletcher, J r. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

